Wednesday Vignette: Parry, I don't think you're in Arizona anymore

I've put off documenting what my garden looks like post January snow and ice.  Thankfully there are several Agaves looking better than this A. parryi...

Wednesday vignette is hosted by Anna, at Flutter & Hum.

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Visiting The Plant Provocateur

I met Hank (the provocateur himself) briefly during the 2013 Garden Blogger's Fling in San Francisco. As with every "Fling" there were so many new faces that it was hard to put a name to every single one. However, there are always a few people who stand out and he was one. Stylish and very knowledgeable, yet not boastful or boorish. His blog, The Plant Provocateur, became a quick favorite simply for the way he looked at things. I think I'm fairly detail oriented but he takes it to a new (incredible) level.

Then I started to read things on Facebook about a shop – he was opening a retail location – how very interesting. My heart is in retail (it's a sickness, I've been infected) and I am always curious about how people approach it. Thus it was a given I would be visiting his shop (at  3318 W. Sunset Blvd - Los Angeles, CA) when we were in L.A. in December. See that tiny slice of green across the street? That's where we're headed...

I do appreciate consistency in branding and immediately recognized the green color and the font from his blog.

"Botanical Inspiration"...that kind of says it all, doesn't it?

I think this is the point where some might turn back: what? It's back there? Where? However as a long time lover of The Pink Door, in Seattle's Post Alley, I know this long pathway means things are going to be interesting...

Yep.

Courtyard seating with a fabulous painting on the rear wall...

This space is used for classes like a Japanese Woodcarving workshop, a Kokedama 'Japanese String Garden' Workshop, and a Gourmet Pop-Up Shop. Not to mention it looks to be an incredible space to just hang out in.

There's so much to look at outside I almost forgot to go inside.

Fun way to use fallen Monkey Puzzle branches...

But I did, eventually, go inside...

And I kind of want everything.

Hank has a way with flowers...

But it doesn't stop there...

And can you even imagine how much I loved this print? And how much it stabbed me in the heart later when Andrew said, "I thought you would have wanted to by that print back at that shop..." What? Yes, I loved it! And why didn't you tell me that was up for discussion (I thought our walls were maxed out)? Why?!!! (sigh...)

Who me? Yes...you. I love you still. And I loved visiting The Plant Provocateur...

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

In a Vase on Monday - The Goodwill Challenge

No, it's not another Challenge in the same vein as the Ornamental Cabbage & Kale Challenge or the Poinsettia Challenge – this one's personal. Issued directly to me, and only me...quietly at the Goodwill. You see I'd spotted this...

And was very intrigued. It immediately reminded me of the beloved Circle Pot from Potted...

But yet, it wasn't quite right, there was something vaguely "Nagel" about it. Which gave me an unpleasant shudder and sent me looking elsewhere. Finally, I circled back around. It had really fired up my imagination. 60% horrid, 40% good...and it did match the tile around my fireplace...maybe I should buy it? At the huge price of $2.99...it was hardly going to break the bank either way, but I'm not a fan of accumulating clutter, just because it was cheap.

Then I realized what else it reminded me of. Circle pot from Potted = good. Sculptura Circle (Donut) Phone from the 1970's = not so good. Don't know what I'm talking about? This photo (found here) should help...

Yes, and lucky me I had one of those in my room as a teen. Go figure. The final straw was a fellow shopper who decided to lecture me on how "wrong" the shape was for a vase. "It will, you know, contain the flowers, hold them back...don't buy it, nope...nope...nope." Well okay then, that settles it, I couldn't pay for it fast enough.

But what to put in it? Something with a blush of burgundy, like the new growth on the Melianthus major 'Antonow's Blue'.

Subtle

And not so subtle. Love this combo but there's no way I'm cutting a branch from my variegated Daphniphyllum.

Maybe...

In the end I went with the Melianthus foliage mixed with a couple sprigs of Euphorbia x martinii 'Ascot Rainbow'. I liked it – but decided it needed one more element, something to break up the green...

Lupinus albifrons!

I like how the color contrasts, while the shape echoes the Euphorbia.

The finished item. Do you notice something missing? Something that was in the photo just above? Ya – I'd created a two-horned monster. Ugh. So one of the Melianthus stems was chopped, sadly that took away the blush of color too, but once I'd seen the horns I couldn't unsee them and it had to go.

Have you noticed I'm working on this arrangement outside?

It was a GLORIOUS 59 and sunny. I was giddy. My apologies to those of you suffering the winter storm on the east coast – but I was experiencing a severe case of spring fever.

So that's that. My answer to the Goodwill Challenge...

More vases filled with gardeny goodness can be seen over on Rambling in the Garden – our hostess for this weekly adventure.

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Mushrooms and Berries, in unexpected places

This is the second winter I've used these cheap woven hanging planters from IKEA (made from water hyacinth, according to their website). For some reason the Maidenhair Ferns I planted in them this fall aren't happy, the ones in the ground look great so it's not the weather. The little Sedum is fine, so I would think that rules out too much rain. Dunno.

But the interesting thing isn't what's growing (or not growing) in the container...it's what's growing on the container. Ladies and Gentlemen we have mushrooms...

Lots of mushrooms.

They're kinda cool don't you think?

Since there's plenty more rain in the forecast I predict continued growth.

At least something is enjoying the nonstop wet conditions.

Heading into the back garden the other say something vibrantly blue caught my eye in a small patch of Ophiopogon japonicus 'Nanus' (dwarf mondo grass).

Little tiny berries...

The black berries on Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' (black mondo grass) are held up above the foliage on strong stems, I think I like this hidden approach better. Although I guess with black berries and black foliage you wouldn't really see those berries if they weren't held proud.

These two unexpected garden surprises are reminders that next Friday, January 29th (the last Friday of the month), brings the return of my "Favorite Plant" feature, after it's holiday hiatus. Won't you join in the fun and share photos of the plants that stood out in your garden during the month of January?

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.